Right to counsel
A statute gives children the right to counsel in intrafamily adoption matters. La. Child. Code Ann. art. 1244.1(B) states:
Upon receipt of the opposition, the court shall appoint an attorney to represent the child, subject to the limitations in Article 1121. Neither the child nor anyone purporting to act on his behalf may be permitted to waive this right. The costs of the representation of the child shall be taxed as costs of court.
Moreover, La. Child. Code Ann. art. 1137(B) provides that where a mother seeks to relinquish custody for an adoption and the father objects, then “Upon receipt of the notice of opposition, the court shall appoint an attorney to represent the child, subject to the limitations set out in Article 1121. Neither the child nor anyone purporting to act on his behalf may be permitted to waive this right. The costs of the child’s representation shall be taxed as costs of court.”
